Smart ring for manipulating virtual objects displayed by a wearable device

ABSTRACT

Systems, devices, media, and methods are presented for using a handheld device such as a ring to manipulate a virtual object being displayed by a wearable device such as eyewear. The path of the virtual object in motion is substantially linked, in time and space, to the course traveled by a hand holding the handheld device. The methods in some implementations include presenting the virtual object on a display at a first location relative to a three-dimensional coordinate system, collecting motion data from an inertial measurement unit on the handheld device, displaying the virtual object at a second location along a path based on the motion data. In some implementations the eyewear includes a projector located and configured to project the display onto a lens assembly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/907,805 entitled SMART RING FOR MANIPULATING VIRTUAL OBJECTSDISPLAYED BY A WEARABLE DEVICE, filed on Sep. 30, 2019, the contents ofwhich are incorporated fully herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Examples set forth in the present disclosure relate to portableelectronic devices, including wearable devices such as eyewear. Moreparticularly, but not by way of limitation, the present disclosuredescribes systems and methods for manipulating a virtual object based onthe motion of a handheld electronic device such as a ring.

BACKGROUND

Many types of computers and electronic devices available today,including mobile devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets, and laptops),handheld devices (e.g., smart rings), and wearable devices (e.g.,smartglasses, digital eyewear, headwear, headgear, and head-mounteddisplays), include internal sensors for collecting information about thelocation, orientation, motion, and heading of the device.

Augmented reality refers to the technology that overlays one or morevirtual images onto a user's view of a real-world, physical environment.The virtual images may include data, information, text, characters,objects, or other things suitable for display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features of the various implementations disclosed will be readilyunderstood from the following detailed description, in which referenceis made to the appending drawing figures. A reference numeral is usedwith each element in the description and throughout the several views ofthe drawing. When a plurality of similar elements is present, a singlereference numeral may be assigned to like elements, with an addedlower-case letter referring to a specific element.

The various elements shown in the figures are not drawn to scale unlessotherwise indicated. The dimensions of the various elements may beenlarged or reduced in the interest of clarity. The several figuresdepict one or more implementations and are presented by way of exampleonly and should not be construed as limiting. Included in the drawingare the following figures:

FIG. 1A is a side view (right) of an example hardware configuration ofan eyewear device that may be utilized in a virtual object manipulationsystem;

FIG. 1B is a top, partly sectional view of a right chunk of the eyeweardevice of FIG. 1A depicting a right visible-light camera, and a circuitboard;

FIG. 1C is a side view (left) of an example hardware configuration ofthe eyewear device of FIG. 1A, which shows a left visible-light camera;

FIG. 1D is a top, partly sectional view of a left chunk of the eyeweardevice of FIG. 1C depicting the left visible-light camera, and a circuitboard;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are rear views of example hardware configurations of aneyewear device utilized in the virtual object manipulation system;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic depiction of a three-dimensional scene, a leftraw image captured by a left visible-light camera, and a right raw imagecaptured by a right visible-light camera;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of an example virtual objectmanipulation system including a wearable device (e.g., an eyeweardevice), a mobile device, a handheld device (e.g., a smart ring), and aserver system connected via various networks;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of an example hardwareconfiguration for a mobile device of the virtual object manipulationsystem of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of an example hardwareconfiguration for a handheld device (e.g., a smart ring) of the virtualobject manipulation system of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an example hardware configuration for ahandheld device (e.g., a smart ring) of the virtual object manipulationsystem of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a handheld device (e.g., a smart ring)moving along an example course and a virtual object moving along anexample path, where the path is correlated with the course in nearreal-time, in the virtual object manipulation system of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective illustration of an example segment along aninput device (e.g., a touchpad) of a handheld device (e.g., a smartring), in the virtual object manipulation system of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various implementations and details are described with reference to anexample: a virtual object manipulation system for presenting a virtualobject on a display at a first location along a path (e.g., projectedonto at least one lens assembly of a portable eyewear device),collecting motion data associated with a course traveled by a hand inmotion holding a handheld device (e.g., a ring), and displaying thevirtual object at a second location based on the collected motion data.The path of the virtual object is substantially linked to the coursetraveled by the handheld device. In addition to the virtual objectmanipulation system, the systems and methods described herein may beapplied to and used with any of a variety of systems, especially thosein which a user desires to select and manipulate a virtual object usinga handheld device in a physical environment that is displayed by awearable device.

The following detailed description includes systems, methods,techniques, instruction sequences, and computing machine programproducts illustrative of examples set forth in the disclosure. Numerousdetails and examples are included for the purpose of providing athorough understanding of the disclosed subject matter and its relevantteachings. Those skilled in the relevant art, however, may understandhow to apply the relevant teachings without such details. Aspects of thedisclosed subject matter are not limited to the specific devices,systems, and method described because the relevant teachings can beapplied or practice in a variety of ways. The terminology andnomenclature used herein is for the purpose of describing particularaspects only and is not intended to be limiting. In general, well-knowninstruction instances, protocols, structures, and techniques are notnecessarily shown in detail.

The term “coupled” or “connected” as used herein refers to any logical,optical, physical, or electrical connection, including a link or thelike by which the electrical or magnetic signals produced or supplied byone system element are imparted to another coupled or connected systemelement. Unless described otherwise, coupled or connected elements ordevices are not necessarily directly connected to one another and may beseparated by intermediate components, elements, or communication media,one or more of which may modify, manipulate, or carry the electricalsignals. The term “on” means directly supported by an element orindirectly supported by the element through another element integratedinto or supported by the element.

The orientations of the eyewear device, the handheld device, associatedcomponents and any other complete devices incorporating a camera or aninertial measurement unit such as shown in any of the drawings, aregiven by way of example only, for illustration and discussion purposes.In operation, the eyewear device may be oriented in any other directionsuitable to the particular application of the eyewear device; forexample, up, down, sideways, or any other orientation. Also, to theextent used herein, any directional term, such as front, rear, inward,outward, toward, left, right, lateral, longitudinal, up, down, upper,lower, top, bottom, side, horizontal, vertical, and diagonal are used byway of example only, and are not limiting as to the direction ororientation of any camera or inertial measurement unit as constructed asotherwise described herein.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the examples willbe set forth in part in the following description, and in part willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of thefollowing and the accompanying drawings or may be learned by productionor operation of the examples. The objects and advantages of the presentsubject matter may be realized and attained by means of themethodologies, instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointedout in the appended claims.

Reference now is made in detail to the examples illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and discussed below.

FIG. 1A is a side view (right) of an example hardware configuration ofan eyewear device 100 utilized in a virtual object manipulation system,as described herein, which shows a right visible-light camera 114B forgathering image information. As further described below, two cameras114A, 114B capture image information for a scene from two separateviewpoints. The two captured images may be used to project athree-dimensional display onto a screen for viewing with 3D glasses.

The eyewear device 100 includes a right optical assembly 180B with animage display to present images, such as depth images. As shown in FIGS.1A and 1B, the eyewear device 100 includes the right visible-lightcamera 114B. The eyewear device 100 can include multiple visible-lightcameras 114A, 114B that form a passive type of three-dimensional camera,such as stereo camera, of which the right visible-light camera 114B islocated on a right chunk 110B. As shown in FIGS. 1C-D, the eyeweardevice 100 also includes a left visible-light camera 114A.

Left and right visible-light cameras 114A, 114B are sensitive to thevisible-light range wavelength. Each of the visible-light cameras 114A,114B have a different frontward facing field of view which areoverlapping to enable generation of three-dimensional depth images, forexample, right visible-light camera 114B depicts a right field of view111B. Generally, a “field of view” is the part of the scene that isvisible through the camera at a particular position and orientation inspace. The fields of view 111A and 111B have an overlapping field ofview 813. Objects or object features outside the field of view 111A,111B when the visible-light camera captures the image are not recordedin a raw image (e.g., photograph or picture). The field of viewdescribes an angle range or extent, which the image sensor of thevisible-light camera 114A, 114B picks up electromagnetic radiation of agiven scene in a captured image of the given scene. Field of view can beexpressed as the angular size of the view cone, i.e., an angle of view.The angle of view can be measured horizontally, vertically, ordiagonally.

In an example, visible-light cameras 114A, 114B have a field of viewwith an angle of view between 15° to 30°, for example 24°, and have aresolution of 480×480 pixels. The “angle of coverage” describes theangle range that a lens of visible-light cameras 114A, 114B or infraredcamera 220 (see FIG. 2A) can effectively image. Typically, the cameralens produces an image circle that is large enough to cover the film orsensor of the camera completely, possibly including some vignettingtoward the edge. If the angle of coverage of the camera lens does notfill the sensor, the image circle will be visible, typically with strongvignetting toward the edge, and the effective angle of view will belimited to the angle of coverage.

Examples of such visible-light cameras 114A, 114B include ahigh-resolution complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) imagesensor and a digital VGA camera (video graphics array) capable ofresolutions of 640 p (e.g., 640×480 pixels for a total of 0.3megapixels), 720p, or 1080p. Other examples of visible-light cameras114A, 114B that can capture high-definition (HD) still images and storethem at a resolution of 1642 by 1642 pixels (or greater); or recordhigh-definition video at a high frame rate (e.g., thirty to sixty framesper second or more) and store the recording at a resolution of 1216 by1216 pixels (or greater).

The eyewear device 100 may capture image sensor data from thevisible-light cameras 114A, 114B along with geolocation data, digitizedby an image processor, for storage in a memory. The left and right rawimages captured by respective visible-light cameras 114A, 114B are inthe two-dimensional space domain and comprise a matrix of pixels on atwo-dimensional coordinate system that includes an X-axis for horizontalposition and a Y-axis for vertical position. Each pixel includes a colorattribute value (e.g., a red pixel light value, a green pixel lightvalue, a blue pixel light value, or a combination thereof); and aposition attribute (e.g., an X-axis coordinate and a Y-axis coordinate).

In order to capture stereo images for later display as athree-dimensional projection, the image processor 912 (shown in FIG. 4)may be coupled to the visible-light cameras 114A, 114B to receive andstore the visual image information. A timestamp for each image may beadded by the image processor 912 or another processor which controlsoperation of the visible-light cameras 114A, 114B, which act as a stereocamera to simulate human binocular vision. The timestamp on each pair ofimages allows the images to be displayed together as part of athree-dimensional projection. Three-dimensional projections create animmersive, life-like experience that is desirable in a variety ofcontexts, including virtual reality (VR) and video gaming.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic depiction of a three-dimensional scene 715, aleft raw image 858A captured by a left visible-light camera 114A, and aright raw image 858B captured by a right visible-light camera 114B. Theleft field of view 111A may overlap, as shown, with the right field ofview 111B. The overlapping field of view 813 represents that portion ofthe image captured by both cameras 114A, 114B. The term ‘overlapping’when referring to field of view means the matrix of pixels in thegenerated raw images overlap by thirty percent (30%) or more.‘Substantially overlapping’ means the matrix of pixels in the generatedraw images—or in the infrared image of scene—overlap by fifty percent(50%) or more. As described herein, the two raw images 858A, 858B may beprocessed to include a timestamp, which allows the images to bedisplayed together as part of a three-dimensional projection.

For the capture of stereo images, as illustrated in FIG. 3, a pair ofraw red, green, and blue (RGB) images are captured of a real scene 715at a given moment in time—a left raw image 858A captured by the leftcamera 114A and right raw image 858B captured by the right camera 114B.When the pair of raw images 858A, 858B are processed (e.g., by the imageprocessor 912), depth images are generated. The generated depth imagesmay be viewed on an optical assembly 180A, 180B of an eyewear device, onanother display (e.g., the image display 880 on a mobile device 890), oron a screen.

The generated depth images are in the three-dimensional space domain andcan comprise a matrix of vertices on a three-dimensional locationcoordinate system that includes an X axis for horizontal position (e.g.,length), a Y axis for vertical position (e.g., height), and a Z axis fordepth (e.g., distance). Each vertex may include a color attribute (e.g.,a red pixel light value, a green pixel light value, a blue pixel lightvalue, or a combination thereof); a position attribute (e.g., an Xlocation coordinate, a Y location coordinate, and a Z locationcoordinate); a texture attribute; a reflectance attribute; or acombination thereof. The texture attribute quantifies the perceivedtexture of the depth image, such as the spatial arrangement of color orintensities in a region of vertices of the depth image.

In one example, the virtual object manipulation system 1000 includes theeyewear device 100, which includes a frame 105 and a left temple 110Aextending from a left lateral side 170A of the frame 105 and a righttemple 110B extending from a right lateral side 170B of the frame 105.The eyewear device 100 may further include at least two visible-lightcameras 114A, 114B which may have overlapping fields of view. In oneexample, the eyewear device 100 includes a left visible-light camera114A with a left field of view 111A, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The leftcamera 114A is connected to the frame 105 or the left temple 110A tocapture a left raw image 858A from the left side of scene 715. Theeyewear device 100 further includes a right visible-light camera 114Bwith a right field of view 111B. The right camera 114B is connected tothe frame 105 or the right temple 110B to capture a right raw image 858Bfrom the right side of scene 715.

FIG. 1B is a top cross-sectional view of a right chunk 110B of theeyewear device 100 of FIG. 1A depicting the right visible-light camera114B of the camera system, and a circuit board. FIG. 1C is a side view(left) of an example hardware configuration of an eyewear device 100 ofFIG. 1A, which shows a left visible-light camera 114A of the camerasystem. FIG. 1D is a top cross-sectional view of a left chunk 110A ofthe eyewear device of FIG. 1C depicting the left visible-light camera114A of the three-dimensional camera, and a circuit board. Constructionand placement of the left visible-light camera 114A is substantiallysimilar to the right visible-light camera 114B, except the connectionsand coupling are on the left lateral side 170A. As shown in the exampleof FIG. 1B, the eyewear device 100 includes the right visible-lightcamera 114B and a circuit board 140B, which may be a flexible printedcircuit board (PCB). The right hinge 126B connects the right chunk 110Bto a right temple 125B of the eyewear device 100. The left hinge 126Aconnects the left chunk 110A to a left temple 125A of the eyewear device100. In some examples, components of the visible-light cameras 114A, B,the flexible PCBs 140A, B, or other electrical connectors or contactsmay be located on the temples 125A, B or the hinge 126A, B.

The right chunk 110B includes chunk body 211 and a chunk cap, with thechunk cap omitted in the cross-section of FIG. 1B. Disposed inside theright chunk 110B are various interconnected circuit boards, such as PCBsor flexible PCBs, that include controller circuits for rightvisible-light camera 114B, microphone(s), low-power wireless circuitry(e.g., for wireless short range network communication via Bluetooth™),high-speed wireless circuitry (e.g., for wireless local area networkcommunication via WiFi).

The right visible-light camera 114B is coupled to or disposed on theflexible PCB 140B and covered by a visible-light camera cover lens,which is aimed through opening(s) formed in the frame 105. For example,the right rim 107B of the frame 105, shown in FIG. 2A, is connected tothe right chunk 110B and includes the opening(s) for the visible-lightcamera cover lens. The frame 105 includes a front side configured toface outward and away from the eye of the user. The opening for thevisible-light camera cover lens is formed on and through the front oroutward-facing side of the frame 105. In the example, the rightvisible-light camera 114B has an outward-facing field of view 111B(shown in FIG. 3) with a line of sight or perspective that is correlatedwith the right eye of the user of the eyewear device 100. Thevisible-light camera cover lens can also be adhered to a front side oroutward-facing surface of the right chunk 110B in which an opening isformed with an outward-facing angle of coverage, but in a differentoutwardly direction. The coupling can also be indirect via interveningcomponents.

As shown in FIG. 1B, flexible PCB 140B is disposed inside the rightchunk 110B and is coupled to one or more other components housed in theright chunk 110B. Although shown as being formed on the circuit boardsof the right chunk 110B, the right visible-light camera 114B can beformed on the circuit boards of the left chunk 110A, the temples 125A,125B, or the frame 105.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views, from the rear, of examplehardware configurations of the eyewear device 100, including twodifferent types of image displays. The eyewear device 100 is sized andshaped in a form configured for wearing by a user; the form ofeyeglasses is shown in the example. The eyewear device 100 can takeother forms and may incorporate other types of frameworks; for example,a headgear, a headset, or a helmet.

In the eyeglasses example, eyewear device 100 includes a frame 105including a left rim 107A connected to a right rim 107B via a bridge 106adapted to be supported by a nose of the user. The left and right rims107A, 107B include respective apertures 175A, 175B, which hold arespective optical element 180A, 180B, such as a lens and a displaydevice. As used herein, the term “lens” is meant to include transparentor translucent pieces of glass or plastic having curved or flat surfacesthat cause light to converge/diverge or that cause little or noconvergence or divergence.

Although shown as having two optical elements 180A, 180B, the eyeweardevice 100 can include other arrangements, such as a single opticalelement (or it may not include any optical element 180A, 180B),depending on the application or the intended user of the eyewear device100. As further shown, eyewear device 100 includes a left chunk 110Aadjacent the left lateral side 170A of the frame 105 and a right chunk110B adjacent the right lateral side 170B of the frame 105. The chunks110A, 110B may be integrated into the frame 105 on the respective sides170A, 170B (as illustrated) or implemented as separate componentsattached to the frame 105 on the respective sides 170A, 170B.Alternatively, the chunks 110A, 110B may be integrated into temples (notshown) attached to the frame 105.

In one example, the image display of optical assembly 180A, 180Bincludes an integrated image display. As shown in FIG. 2A, each opticalassembly 180A, 180B includes a suitable display matrix 177, such as aliquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED)display, or any other such display. Each optical assembly 180A, 180Balso includes an optical layer or layers 176, which can include lenses,optical coatings, prisms, mirrors, waveguides, optical strips, and otheroptical components in any combination. The optical layers 176A, 176B, .. . 176N (shown as 176A-N in FIG. 2A and herein) can include a prismhaving a suitable size and configuration and including a first surfacefor receiving light from a display matrix and a second surface foremitting light to the eye of the user. The prism of the optical layers176A-N extends over all or at least a portion of the respectiveapertures 175A, 175B formed in the left and right rims 107A, 107B topermit the user to see the second surface of the prism when the eye ofthe user is viewing through the corresponding left and right rims 107A,107B. The first surface of the prism of the optical layers 176A-N facesupwardly from the frame 105 and the display matrix 177 overlies theprism so that photons and light emitted by the display matrix 177impinge the first surface. The prism is sized and shaped so that thelight is refracted within the prism and is directed toward the eye ofthe user by the second surface of the prism of the optical layers176A-N. In this regard, the second surface of the prism of the opticallayers 176A-N can be convex to direct the light toward the center of theeye. The prism can optionally be sized and shaped to magnify the imageprojected by the display matrix 177, and the light travels through theprism so that the image viewed from the second surface is larger in oneor more dimensions than the image emitted from the display matrix 177.

In one example, the optical layers 176A-N may include an LCD layer thatis transparent (keeping the lens open) unless and until a voltage isapplied which makes the layer opaque (closing or blocking the lens). Theimage processor 912 on the eyewear device 100 may execute programming toapply the voltage to the LCD layer in order to create an active shuttersystem, making the eyewear device 100 suitable for viewing visualcontent when displayed as a three-dimensional projection. Technologiesother than LCD may be used for the active shutter mode, including othertypes of reactive layers that are responsive to a voltage or anothertype of input.

In another example, the image display device of optical assembly 180A,180B includes a projection image display as shown in FIG. 2B. Eachoptical assembly 180A, 180B includes a laser projector 150, which is athree-color laser projector using a scanning mirror or galvanometer.During operation, an optical source such as a laser projector 150 isdisposed in or on one of the temples 125A, 125B of the eyewear device100. Optical assembly 180B in this example includes one or more opticalstrips 155A, 155B, . . . 155N (shown as 155A-N in FIG. 2B) which arespaced apart and across the width of the lens of each optical assembly180A, 180B or across a depth of the lens between the front surface andthe rear surface of the lens.

As the photons projected by the laser projector 150 travel across thelens of each optical assembly 180A, 180B, the photons encounter theoptical strips 155A-N. When a particular photon encounters a particularoptical strip, the photon is either redirected toward the user's eye, orit passes to the next optical strip. A combination of modulation oflaser projector 150, and modulation of optical strips, may controlspecific photons or beams of light. In an example, a processor controlsoptical strips 155A-N by initiating mechanical, acoustic, orelectromagnetic signals. Although shown as having two optical assemblies180A, 180B, the eyewear device 100 can include other arrangements, suchas a single or three optical assemblies, or each optical assembly 180A,180B may have arranged different arrangement depending on theapplication or intended user of the eyewear device 100.

As further shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, eyewear device 100 includes a leftchunk 110A adjacent the left lateral side 170A of the frame 105 and aright chunk 110B adjacent the right lateral side 170B of the frame 105.The chunks 110A, 110B may be integrated into the frame 105 on therespective lateral sides 170A, 170B (as illustrated) or implemented asseparate components attached to the frame 105 on the respective sides170A, 170B. Alternatively, the chunks 110A, 110B may be integrated intotemples 125A, 125B attached to the frame 105.

In another example, the eyewear device 100 shown in FIG. 2B may includetwo projectors, a left projector 150A (not shown) and a right projector150B (shown as projector 150). The left optical assembly 180A mayinclude a left display matrix 177A (not shown) or a left set of opticalstrips 155′A, 155′B, . . . 155′N (155 prime, A through N, not shown)which are configured to interact with light from the left projector150A. Similarly, the right optical assembly 180B may include a rightdisplay matrix 177B (not shown) or a right set of optical strips 155″A,155″B, . . . 155″N (155 double-prime, A through N, not shown) which areconfigured to interact with light from the right projector 150B. In thisexample, the eyewear device 100 includes a left display and a rightdisplay.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of an example virtual objectmanipulation system 1000 including a wearable device 100 (e.g., aneyewear device), a mobile device 890, a handheld device 500 (e.g., aring), and a server system 998 connected via various networks 995 suchas the Internet. The system 1000 includes a low-power wirelessconnection 925 and a high-speed wireless connection 937 between theeyewear device 100 and a mobile device 890—and between the eyeweardevice 100 and the ring 500—as shown.

The eyewear device 100 includes one or more visible-light cameras 114A,114B which may be capable of capturing still images or video, asdescribed herein. The cameras 114A, 114B may have a direct memory access(DMA) to high-speed circuitry 930. A pair of cameras 114A, 114B mayfunction as a stereo camera, as described herein. The cameras 114A, 114Bmay be used to capture initial-depth images that may be rendered intothree-dimensional (3D) models that are texture-mapped images of a red,green, and blue (RGB) imaged scene. The device 100 may also include adepth sensor 213, which uses infrared signals to estimate the positionof objects relative to the device 100. The depth sensor 213 in someexamples includes one or more infrared emitter(s) 215 and infraredcamera(s) 220.

The eyewear device 100 further includes two image displays of eachoptical assembly 180A, 180B (one associated with the left side 170A andone associated with the right side 170B). The eyewear device 100 alsoincludes an image display driver 942, an image processor 912, low-powercircuitry 920, and high-speed circuitry 930. The image displays of eachoptical assembly 180A, 180B are for presenting images, including stillimages and video. The image display driver 942 is coupled to the imagedisplays of each optical assembly 180A, 180B in order to control theimages displayed. The eyewear device 100 further includes a user inputdevice 991 (e.g., a touch sensor or touchpad) to receive atwo-dimensional input selection from a user.

The components shown in FIG. 4 for the eyewear device 100 are located onone or more circuit boards, for example a PCB or flexible PCB, locatedin the rims or temples. Alternatively, or additionally, the depictedcomponents can be located in the chunks, frames, hinges, or bridge ofthe eyewear device 100. Left and right visible-light cameras 114A, 114Bcan include digital camera elements such as a complementarymetal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, a charge-coupled device,a lens, or any other respective visible or light capturing elements thatmay be used to capture data, including still images or video of sceneswith unknown objects.

As shown in FIG. 4, high-speed circuitry 930 includes a high-speedprocessor 932, a memory 934, and high-speed wireless circuitry 936. Inthe example, the image display driver 942 is coupled to the high-speedcircuitry 930 and operated by the high-speed processor 932 in order todrive the left and right image displays of each optical assembly 180A,180B. High-speed processor 932 may be any processor capable of managinghigh-speed communications and operation of any general computing systemneeded for eyewear device 100. High-speed processor 932 includesprocessing resources needed for managing high-speed data transfers onhigh-speed wireless connection 937 to a wireless local area network(WLAN) using high-speed wireless circuitry 936. In certain examples, thehigh-speed processor 932 executes an operating system such as a LINUXoperating system or other such operating system of the eyewear device100 and the operating system is stored in memory 934 for execution. Inaddition to any other responsibilities, the high-speed processor 932executes a software architecture for the eyewear device 100 that is usedto manage data transfers with high-speed wireless circuitry 936. Incertain examples, high-speed wireless circuitry 936 is configured toimplement Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11communication standards, also referred to herein as Wi-Fi. In otherexamples, other high-speed communications standards may be implementedby high-speed wireless circuitry 936.

The low-power circuitry 920 includes a low-power processor 922 andlow-power wireless circuitry 924. The low-power wireless circuitry 924and the high-speed wireless circuitry 936 of the eyewear device 100 caninclude short range transceivers (Bluetooth™) and wireless wide, local,or wide-area network transceivers (e.g., cellular or WiFi). Mobiledevice 890, including the transceivers communicating via the low-powerwireless connection 925 and the high-speed wireless connection 937, maybe implemented using details of the architecture of the eyewear device100, as can other elements of the network 995.

Memory 934 includes any storage device capable of storing various dataand applications, including, among other things, camera data generatedby the left and right visible-light cameras 114A, 114B, the infraredcamera(s) 220, the image processor 912, and images generated for displayby the image display driver 942 on the image display of each opticalassembly 180A, 180B. Although the memory 934 is shown as integrated withhigh-speed circuitry 930, the memory 934 in other examples may be anindependent, standalone element of the eyewear device 100. In certainsuch examples, electrical routing lines may provide a connection througha chip that includes the high-speed processor 932 from the imageprocessor 912 or low-power processor 922 to the memory 934. In otherexamples, the high-speed processor 932 may manage addressing of memory934 such that the low-power processor 922 will boot the high-speedprocessor 932 any time that a read or write operation involving memory934 is needed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the high-speed processor 932 of the eyewear device100 can be coupled to the camera system (visible-light cameras 114A,114B), the image display driver 942, the user input device 991, and thememory 934. As shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 830 of the mobile device 890 maybe coupled to a camera system 870, a mobile display driver 882, a userinput layer 891, and a memory 840A. The eyewear device 100 can performall or a subset of any of the functions described herein which resultfrom the execution of the message composition system in the memory 934by the processor 932 of the eyewear device 100. The mobile device 890can perform all or a subset of any of the functions described hereinwhich result from the execution of the message composition system in theflash memory 840A by the CPU 830 of the mobile device 890. Functions canbe divided in the message composition system such that the ring 500collects raw data from the IMU 572 and sends it to the eyewear device100 which performs the displaying, comparing, and composing functions.

The server system 998 may be one or more computing devices as part of aservice or network computing system, for example, that include aprocessor, a memory, and network communication interface to communicateover the network 995 with an eyewear device 100 and a mobile device 890.

The output components of the eyewear device 100 include visual elements,such as the left and right image displays associated with each lens oroptical assembly 180A, 180B as described in FIGS. 2A and 2B (e.g., adisplay such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel(PDP), a light emitting diode (LED) display, a projector, or awaveguide). The eyewear device 100 may include a user-facing indicator(e.g., an LED, a loudspeaker, or a vibrating actuator), or anoutward-facing signal (e.g., an LED, a loudspeaker). The image displaysof each optical assembly 180A, 180B are driven by the image displaydriver 942. In some example configurations, the output components of theeyewear device 100 further include additional indicators such as audibleelements (e.g., loudspeakers), tactile components (e.g., an actuatorsuch as a vibratory motor to generate haptic feedback), and other signalgenerators. For example, the device 100 may include a user-facing set ofindicators, and an outward-facing set of signals. The user-facing set ofindicators are configured to be seen or otherwise sensed by the user ofthe device 100. For example, the device 100 may include an LED displaypositioned so the user can see it, a loudspeaker positioned to generatea sound the user can hear, or an actuator to provide haptic feedback theuser can feel. The outward-facing set of signals are configured to beseen or otherwise sensed by an observer near the device 100. Similarly,the device 100 may include an LED, a loudspeaker, or an actuator that isconfigured and positioned to be sensed by an observer.

The input components of the eyewear device 100 may include alphanumericinput components (e.g., a touch screen or touchpad configured to receivealphanumeric input, a photo-optical keyboard, or otheralphanumeric-configured elements), pointer-based input components (e.g.,a mouse, a touchpad, a trackball, a joystick, a motion sensor, or otherpointing instruments), tactile input components (e.g., a button switch,a touch screen or touchpad that senses the location or force of touchesor touch gestures, or other tactile-configured elements), and audioinput components (e.g., a microphone), and the like. The mobile device890 and the server system 998 may include alphanumeric, pointer-based,tactile, audio, and other input components.

In some examples, the eyewear device 100 includes a collection ofmotion-sensing components referred to as an inertial measurement unit972. The motion-sensing components may be micro-electro-mechanicalsystems (MEMS) with microscopic moving parts, often small enough to bepart of a microchip. The inertial measurement unit (IMU) 972 in someexample configurations includes an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and amagnetometer. The accelerometer senses the linear acceleration of thedevice 100 (including the acceleration due to gravity) relative to threeorthogonal axes (x, y, z). The gyroscope senses the angular velocity ofthe device 100 about three axes of rotation (pitch, roll, yaw).Together, the accelerometer and gyroscope can provide position,orientation, and motion data about the device relative to six axes (x,y, z, pitch, roll, yaw). The magnetometer, if present, senses theheading of the device 100 relative to magnetic north. The position ofthe device 100 may be determined by location sensors, such as a GPSreceiver, one or more transceivers to generate relative positioncoordinates, altitude sensors or barometers, and other orientationsensors. Such positioning system coordinates can also be received overthe wireless connections 925, 937 from the mobile device 890 via thelow-power wireless circuitry 924 or the high-speed wireless circuitry936.

The IMU 972 may include or cooperate with a digital motion processor orprogramming that gathers the raw data from the components and compute anumber of useful values about the position, orientation, and motion ofthe device 100. For example, the acceleration data gathered from theaccelerometer can be integrated to obtain the velocity relative to eachaxis (x, y, z); and integrated again to obtain the position of thedevice 100 (in linear coordinates, x, y, and z). The angular velocitydata from the gyroscope can be integrated to obtain the position of thedevice 100 (in spherical coordinates). The programming for computingthese useful values may be stored in memory 934 and executed by thehigh-speed processor 932 of the eyewear device 100.

The eyewear device 100 may optionally include additional peripheralsensors, such as biometric sensors, specialty sensors, or displayelements integrated with eyewear device 100. For example, peripheraldevice elements may include any I/O components including outputcomponents, motion components, position components, or any other suchelements described herein. For example, the biometric sensors mayinclude components to detect expressions (e.g., hand expressions, facialexpressions, vocal expressions, body gestures, or eye tracking), tomeasure biosignals (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature,perspiration, or brain waves), or to identify a person (e.g.,identification based on voice, retina, facial characteristics,fingerprints, or electrical biosignals such as electroencephalogramdata), and the like.

The virtual object manipulation system 1000, as shown in FIG. 4,includes a computing device, such as mobile device 890, coupled to aneyewear device 100 and to a handheld device or ring 500 over a network.The eyewear device 100, as described herein, includes an inertialmeasurement unit 972 for collecting data about the position,orientation, and motion of the eyewear device 100.

The virtual object manipulation system 1000 further includes a memoryfor storing instructions (including those in a message compositionsystem) and a processor for executing the instructions. Execution of theinstructions of the message composition system by the processor 932configures the eyewear device 100 to cooperate with the ring 500 andcompose a message. The system 1000 may utilize the memory 934 of theeyewear device 100 or the memory elements 840A, 840B of the mobiledevice 890 (FIG. 5) or the memory 540 of the ring 500 (FIG. 6). Also,the system 1000 may utilize the processor elements 932, 922 of theeyewear device 100 or the central processing unit (CPU) 830 of themobile device 890 (FIG. 5) or the microcontroller 530 of the ring 500(FIG. 6). Furthermore, the system 1000 may further utilize the memoryand processor elements of the server system 998. In this aspect, thememory and processing functions of the virtual object manipulationsystem 1000 can be shared or distributed across the eyewear device 100,the mobile device 890, the ring 500, or the server system 998.

The mobile device 890 may be a smartphone, tablet, laptop computer,access point, or any other such device capable of connecting witheyewear device 100 using both a low-power wireless connection 925 and ahigh-speed wireless connection 937. Mobile device 890 is connected toserver system 998 and network 995. The network 995 may include anycombination of wired and wireless connections.

FIG. 5 is a high-level functional block diagram of an example mobiledevice 890. Mobile device 890 includes a flash memory 840A whichincludes programming to perform all or a subset of the functionsdescribed herein. Mobile device 890 may include a camera 870 thatcomprises at least two visible-light cameras (first and secondvisible-light cameras with overlapping fields of view) or at least onevisible-light camera and a depth sensor with substantially overlappingfields of view. Flash memory 840A may further include multiple images orvideo, which are generated via the camera 870.

As shown, the mobile device 890 includes an image display 880, a mobiledisplay driver 882 to control the image display 880, and a controller884. In the example of FIG. 4, the image display 880 includes a userinput layer 891 (e.g., a touchscreen) that is layered on top of orotherwise integrated into the screen used by the image display 880.

Examples of touchscreen-type mobile devices that may be used include(but are not limited to) a smart phone, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or other portable device.However, the structure and operation of the touchscreen-type devices isprovided by way of example; the subject technology as described hereinis not intended to be limited thereto. For purposes of this discussion,FIG. 5 therefore provides a block diagram illustration of the examplemobile device 890 with a user interface that includes a touchscreeninput layer 891 for receiving input (by touch, multi-touch, or gesture,and the like, by hand, stylus or other tool) and an image display 880for displaying content

As shown in FIG. 4, the mobile device 890 includes at least one digitaltransceiver (XCVR) 810, shown as WWAN XCVRs, for digital wirelesscommunications via a wide-area wireless mobile communication network.The mobile device 890 also includes additional digital or analogtransceivers, such as short range XCVRs 820 for short-range networkcommunication, such as via NFC, VLC, DECT, ZigBee, Bluetooth™, or WiFi.For example, short range XCVRs 820 may take the form of any availabletwo-way wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver of a type that iscompatible with one or more standard protocols of communicationimplemented in wireless local area networks, such as one of the Wi-Fistandards under IEEE 802.11.

To generate location coordinates for positioning of the mobile device890, the mobile device 890 can include a global positioning system (GPS)receiver. Alternatively, or additionally the mobile device 890 canutilize either or both the short range XCVRs 820 and WWAN XCVRs 810 forgenerating location coordinates for positioning. For example, cellularnetwork, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth™ based positioning systems can generatevery accurate location coordinates, particularly when used incombination. Such location coordinates can be transmitted to the eyeweardevice over one or more network connections via XCVRs 810, 820.

The transceivers 810, 820 (i.e., the network communication interface)conforms to one or more of the various digital wireless communicationstandards utilized by modern mobile networks. Examples of WWANtransceivers 810 include (but are not limited to) transceiversconfigured to operate in accordance with Code Division Multiple Access(CDMA) and 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) networktechnologies including, for example and without limitation, 3GPP type 2(or 3GPP2) and LTE, at times referred to as “4G.” For example, thetransceivers 810, 820 provide two-way wireless communication ofinformation including digitized audio signals, still image and videosignals, web page information for display as well as web-related inputs,and various types of mobile message communications to/from the mobiledevice 890.

The mobile device 890 further includes a microprocessor that functionsas a central processing unit (CPU); shown as CPU 830 in FIG. 4. Aprocessor is a circuit having elements structured and arranged toperform one or more processing functions, typically various dataprocessing functions. Although discrete logic components could be used,the examples utilize components forming a programmable CPU. Amicroprocessor for example includes one or more integrated circuit (IC)chips incorporating the electronic elements to perform the functions ofthe CPU. The CPU 830, for example, may be based on any known oravailable microprocessor architecture, such as a Reduced Instruction SetComputing (RISC) using an ARM architecture, as commonly used today inmobile devices and other portable electronic devices. Of course, otherarrangements of processor circuitry may be used to form the CPU 830 orprocessor hardware in smartphone, laptop computer, and tablet.

The CPU 830 serves as a programmable host controller for the mobiledevice 890 by configuring the mobile device 890 to perform variousoperations, for example, in accordance with instructions or programmingexecutable by CPU 830. For example, such operations may include variousgeneral operations of the mobile device, as well as operations relatedto the programming for applications on the mobile device. Although aprocessor may be configured by use of hardwired logic, typicalprocessors in mobile devices are general processing circuits configuredby execution of programming.

The mobile device 890 includes a memory or storage system, for storingprogramming and data. In the example, the memory system may include aflash memory 840A, a random-access memory (RAM) 840B, and other memorycomponents, as needed. The RAM 840B serves as short-term storage forinstructions and data being handled by the CPU 830, e.g., as a workingdata processing memory. The flash memory 840A typically provideslonger-term storage.

Hence, in the example of mobile device 890, the flash memory 840A isused to store programming or instructions for execution by the CPU 830.Depending on the type of device, the mobile device 890 stores and runs amobile operating system through which specific applications areexecuted. Examples of mobile operating systems include Google Android,Apple iOS (for iPhone or iPad devices), Windows Mobile, Amazon Fire OS,RIM BlackBerry OS, or the like.

FIG. 6 is a high-level functional block diagram of an example handhelddevice, such as a ring 500. The ring 500, as shown, includes an inputdevice 591 (e.g., a touchpad), a lamp 550 (e.g., a light-emittingdiode), a touch driver 582, a touch controller 584, a short-rangetransceiver 520, a microcontroller 530, a memory 540, an inertialmeasurement unit (IMU) 572, a battery 505, and one or more charging andcommunications pins 510.

The ring 500 includes at least one short-range transceiver 520 that isconfigured for short-range network communication, such as via NFC, VLC,DECT, ZigBee, Bluetooth™, BLE (Bluetooth Low-Energy), or WiFi. Theshort-range transceiver(s) 520 may take the form of any availabletwo-way wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver of a type that iscompatible with one or more standard protocols of communicationimplemented in wireless local area networks, such as one of the Wi-Fistandards under IEEE 802.11.

The ring 500 may also include a global positioning system (GPS)receiver. Alternatively, or additionally, the ring 500 can utilizeeither or both the short-range transceiver(s) 520 for generatinglocation coordinates for positioning. For example, cellular network,WiFi, or Bluetooth™ based positioning systems can generate very accuratelocation coordinates, particularly when used in combination. Suchlocation coordinates can be transmitted to one or more eyewear devices100, or to one or more mobile devices 890, over one or more networkconnections via the transceiver(s) 520.

The transceivers 520 (i.e., the network communication interface)conforms to one or more of the various digital wireless communicationstandards utilized by modern mobile networks. Examples of WWANtransceivers include but are not limited to transceivers configured tooperate in accordance with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) network technologies including,for example and without limitation, 3GPP type 2 (or 3GPP2) and LTE, attimes referred to as “4G.” For example, the transceivers 520 providetwo-way wireless communication of information including digitized audiosignals, still image and video signals, web page information for displayas well as web-related inputs, and various types of mobile messagecommunications to or from the ring 500.

The ring 500 further includes a microcontroller 530 that functions as acentral processing unit (CPU) for the ring 500, as shown in FIG. 6. Aprocessor is a circuit having elements structured and arranged toperform one or more processing functions, typically various dataprocessing functions. Although discrete logic components could be used,the examples utilize components forming a programmable CPU. Amicroprocessor for example includes one or more integrated circuit (IC)chips incorporating the electronic elements to perform the functions ofthe microprocessor. The microcontroller 530, for example, may be basedon any known or available microprocessor architecture, such as a ReducedInstruction Set Computing (RISC) using an ARM architecture, as commonlyused today in mobile devices and other portable electronic devices. Ofcourse, other arrangements of processor circuitry may be used to formthe microcontroller 530 or processor hardware in smartphone, laptopcomputer, and tablet.

The microcontroller 530 serves as a programmable host controller for thevirtual object manipulation system 1000 by configuring the ring 500 toperform various operations; for example, in accordance with instructionsor programming executable by the microcontroller 530. For example, suchoperations may include various general operations of the ring 500, aswell as operations related to the programming for applications thatreside on the ring 500. Although a processor may be configured by use ofhardwired logic, typical processors in mobile devices are generalprocessing circuits configured by execution of programming.

The ring 500 includes one or more memory elements 540 for storingprogramming and data. The memory 540 may include a flash memory, arandom-access memory (RAM), or other memory elements, as needed. Thememory 540 stores the programming and instructions needed to perform allor a subset of the functions described herein. The RAM, if present, mayoperate as short-term storage for instructions and data being handled bythe microcontroller 530. Depending on the particular type of handhelddevice, the ring 500 stores and runs an operating system through whichspecific applications are executed. The operating system may be a mobileoperating system, such as Google Android, Apple iOS, Windows Mobile,Amazon Fire OS, RIM BlackBerry OS, or the like.

In some examples, the ring 500 includes a collection of motion-sensingcomponents referred to as an inertial measurement unit 572. Themotion-sensing components may be micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)with microscopic moving parts, often small enough to be part of amicrochip. The inertial measurement unit (IMU) 572 in some exampleconfigurations includes an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and amagnetometer. The accelerometer senses the linear acceleration of thering 500 (including the acceleration due to gravity) relative to threeorthogonal axes (x, y, z). The gyroscope senses the angular velocity ofthe ring 500 about three axes of rotation (pitch, roll, yaw). Together,the accelerometer and gyroscope can provide position, orientation, andmotion data about the device relative to six axes (x, y, z, pitch, roll,yaw). The magnetometer, if present, senses the heading of the ring 500relative to magnetic north. The position of the ring 500 may bedetermined by location sensors, such as a GPS receiver, one or moretransceivers to generate relative position coordinates, altitude sensorsor barometers, and other orientation sensors. Such positioning systemcoordinates can also be received over the wireless connections 925, 937from the mobile device 890 via the low-power wireless circuitry 924 orthe high-speed wireless circuitry 936.

The IMU 572 may include or cooperate with a digital motion processor orprogramming that gathers the raw data from the components and compute anumber of useful values about the position, orientation, and motion ofthe ring 500. For example, the acceleration data gathered from theaccelerometer can be integrated to obtain the velocity relative to eachaxis (x, y, z); and integrated again to obtain the position of the ring500 (in linear coordinates, x, y, and z). The angular velocity data fromthe gyroscope can be integrated to obtain the position of the ring 500(in spherical coordinates). The programming for computing these usefulvalues may be stored in memory 934 and executed by the high-speedprocessor 932 of the eyewear device 100.

The ring 500 may optionally include additional peripheral sensors, suchas biometric sensors, specialty sensors, or display elements integratedwith the ring 500. For example, peripheral device elements may includeany I/O components including output components, motion components,position components, or any other such elements described herein. Forexample, the biometric sensors may include components to detectexpressions (e.g., hand expressions, facial expressions, vocalexpressions, body gestures, or eye tracking), to measure biosignals(e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, perspiration, orbrain waves), or to identify a person (e.g., identification based onvoice, retina, facial characteristics, fingerprints, or electricalbiosignals such as electroencephalogram data), and the like.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an example hardware configuration for aring 500. The touchpad 591, a shown, may be sized and shaped to conformclosely to an outer surface of the ring 500. The ring 500 may alsoinclude an LED 550. The battery 505 may be sized and shaped to fitwithin the body of the ring 500, with connections to one or morecharging and communications pins 510. As shown, the ring 500 may includean internal space (beneath the pins 510 in this example) to house avariety of components, such as a touch driver 582, a touch controller584, a short-range transceiver 520, a microcontroller 530, a memory 540,and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) 572.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a handheld device 500 (e.g., a ring) movingalong an example course 610 and a virtual object 700 moving along anexample path 665. The path 665 is correlated with the course 610 in nearreal-time, so that the virtual object 700 moves in close synchronizationwith the motion of the ring 500. In the example shown, the ring 500 ison the index finger of a hand 10. The thumb may or may not be engagedwith the input device 591 (e.g., touchpad). In use, the hand 10 movesthe ring 500 along a course 610 from a start location 622, by and pastone or more intermediate locations 625, to a stop location 629. When thering 500 is in motion along the course 610, the IMU 572 is collectingcourse data. The motion data includes information about the location,orientation, motion, heading, or a combination thereof of the ring 500at each of a plurality of locations along the course 610.

The display 650 illustrated in FIG. 8, in some implementations, includesthe physical environment 20, a cursor 661, and one or more virtualobjects. In the example shown, the virtual object 700 has been selectedfrom a number of candidate objects. The cursor 661 and virtual object700 are presented in an overlay relative to the physical environment 20.The system 1000 in some examples includes a mathematically placedthree-dimensional coordinate system 710 which may or may not appear onthe display 650. In some implementations, the ring 500 and its IMU 572collect and process data relative to the same three-dimensionalcoordinate system 710. The path 665 of the virtual object 700 has nearlythe same shape as the course 610 traveled by the ring 500. When the ring500 is in motion along the course 610, the motion data collected by theIMU 572 is used to display the virtual object 700, so that the path 665of the virtual object 700 is closely correlated, in near real-time, withthe course 610 traveled by the ring 500.

The display 650 in some implementations, is projected onto a surface,such as a head-mounted screen or onto at least one lens assembly (e.g.,an optical element 180A, 180B of an eyewear device 100) as describedherein. The eyewear device 100 may include a projector 150 (FIG. 2B)that is positioned and configured to project the physical environment20, the cursor 661, and the virtual object 700 in motion along the path665 onto at least one optical lens assembly (e.g., the right opticalelement 180B). In this implementation, the ring 500 cooperates with theeyewear device 100 to manipulate a virtual object 700.

The virtual object manipulation system 1000, as shown in FIG. 4, in someimplementations, includes a handheld device (e.g., ring 500) and aportable device (e.g., eyewear 100). The ring 500 includes amicrocontroller 530, an input device (e.g., touchpad 591), and aninertial measurement unit 572. The eyewear 100, which is incommunication with the ring 500, includes a processor 932, a memory 934,and a display (e.g., the image display associated with at least one lensor optical assembly 180A, 180B).

In an example method of using the virtual object manipulation system1000, one of the first steps is presenting the virtual object 700 on adisplay 650 that includes a physical environment 20 in the background.The virtual object 700 is displayed in a first location relative to athree-dimensional coordinate system 710. The display 650 is coupled toand supported by a wearable device, such as the eyewear device 100described herein. The system 1000 collects motion data from an inertialmeasurement unit 572 that is coupled to and supported by a handhelddevice, such as a smart ring 500, that is in communication with thewearable device 100. The motion data is associated with a course 610traveled by the handheld device 500 in motion relative to thethree-dimensional coordinate system 710, as shown in FIG. 8. The system1000 displays the virtual object 700 in a second location along the path665 based on the motion data, so that the path 665 of the virtual object700 is substantially linked, both in time and space, to the course 610traveled by the handheld device 500. In use, the system 1000 displaysthe virtual object 700 at a plurality of second locations, in rapidsuccession, along the path 665 so that the virtual object 700 appears tomove in direct correlation with the movement of the handheld device 500.

In some implementations, the wearable device is an eyewear device 100that includes a memory 934, a processor 932, and at least one lensassembly 180A, 180B configured to both function as the display 650 andto facilitate viewing of the physical environment 20. As shown in FIG.8, the system 1000 overlays the virtual object 700 onto the physicalenvironment 20 within the display 650, so that the virtual object 700 ispersistently viewable along the path 665 in the foreground, with thephysical environment 20 in the background. Of course, the ring 500 mayalso be located in a position where it can be viewed by looking throughthe lens assembly 180A, 180B while at the same time viewing the virtualobject 700 and the physical environment 20.

The virtual object 700 may move in a linear direction or in rotationrelative to one or more axes of the coordinate system 710. The hand 10moving the handheld device 500 can likewise move in a linear directionor in rotation. The inertial measurement unit 572 of the handheld device500 in some implementations includes an accelerometer and a gyroscope.The IMU 572 inside the handheld device 500, in accordance withprogramming instructions stored in the memory 540, performs the step ofcollecting the motion data associated with the course 610 traveled bythe hand 10 in motion. The motion data includes information from the IMU572 about the location, orientation, motion, heading, or a combinationthereof of the handheld device 500 at each of a plurality of locationsalong the course 610.

The step of collecting motion data can include collecting accelerationdata from the accelerometer. More specifically, the handheld device 500may collect from the accelerometer of the IMU 572 a second linearacceleration associated with the virtual object 700. Linear accelerationdata can be used to derive or otherwise calculate a linear velocity, aposition (x, y, z), or both. In some implementations, the eyewear device100 includes a processor 932 and a memory 934. The process of displayingthe virtual object 700 in a second location may further include theprocessor 932 computing the second location relative to the coordinatesystem 710, wherein the second location is based on the second linearacceleration. In this aspect, the virtual object 700 when displayed inthe second location appears to move in translation along the path 665(relative to at least one axis of the coordinate system 710).

The step of collecting motion data can also include collecting angularvelocity data from the gyroscope. More specifically, the handheld device500 may collect from the gyroscope of the IMU 572 a second angularvelocity associated with the virtual object 700. Angular velocity datacan be used to derive or otherwise calculate angular acceleration, aposition (x, y, z), or both of the virtual object 700. In someimplementations, the eyewear device 100 includes a processor 932 and amemory 934. The process of displaying the virtual object 700 in a secondlocation may further include the processor 932 computing the secondlocation relative to the coordinate system 710, wherein the secondlocation is based on the second angular velocity. In this aspect, thevirtual object 700 when displayed in the second location appears to movein rotation about at least one axis of the three-dimensional coordinatesystem 710.

In another aspect of the method, in implementations where the handhelddevice 500 includes an input device 591 positioned along an outersurface of the handheld device, the method may include the step ofcollecting track data from the input device 591. The track data isassociated with a segment 521 traversed by a finger along the inputdevice. The segment 521 may be similar to a line segment, withoutmeeting the geometrical definition of a line segment. The system 1000 insome implementations may detect the segment 521 and construct a best-fitline segment that approximates the segment 521 in length and heading. Asshown in FIG. 9, the segment 521 has a length and a heading relative toa touchpad coordinate system 710. The process of displaying the virtualobject 700 in a second location may further include the step ofidentifying the original size (first size) associated with the virtualobject 700 when in the first location. The processor 932 calculates amagnification factor based on the length and heading of the segment 521.The magnification factor may include a value that is based on the lengthof the segment 521. The longer the segment 521, the higher the value.The magnification factor may include a sign (positive or negative)associated with the value. The sign is based on the heading of thesegment 521, from start point to end point, relative to a touchpadcoordinate system 710. For example, the system 1000 may establish arange of headings to be associated with a positive sign (which indicatesthe virtual object 700 should be enlarged in size) and another range ofheadings associated with a negative sign (which indicates the virtualobject 700 should be reduced in size). The magnification factor, forexample, may include a value of sixty (based on a segment length of twocentimeters) and a sign that is positive (based on a heading of eightydegrees). In response, the virtual object 700 would be displayed at asecond size that is sixty percent larger compared to the first size.

As shown in FIG. 8, the method in some implementations includespresenting a cursor 661 on the display 650 and moving the cursor 661 inresponse to the motion data collected from the handheld device 500. Inthis aspect, when starting the method, the first virtual element on thedisplay 650 may be the cursor 661. The cursor 661 may appear at adefault location relative to the environment 20. The cursor 661 isdisplayed along with a number of candidate objects. The user may want toselect a particular virtual object 700 from among the candidate objects.When the cursor 661 is displayed near the desired virtual object 700,the method includes detecting a selection input from the input device591 of the handheld device 500, so that the virtual object 700 isreleasably selected by the handheld device 500 according to the user'sselection input. The selection input may be a tap or other contact, atap pattern such as a double tap, or a push or slide along the surfaceof the input device 591, in any of a variety of combinations. Theselection input may include any of a variety of tap patterns, which maybe set or established through a user interface associated with the ring500.

The selection input may be used when only a single virtual object ispresented on the display 650, instead of a number of candidate objects.In some implementations, an outline, highlight, or other indicia may beoverlaid or otherwise added to the virtual object 700 when selected as asignal to the user that the path 665 of the virtual object 700 is nowlinked to the course 610 of the handheld device 500.

Starting and stopping the collecting of motion data associated with acourse 610 and a selected virtual object 700, in some implementations,includes one or more particular inputs to the input device 591. Forexample, to start a course 610 for a new virtual object 700, the user insome implementations will press and hold thumb or finger on the inputdevice 591 and, thus, engage the IMU 572 to begin and continue theprocess of collecting the motion data while moving the hand 10. Theprocess of collecting motion data may continue until the system detectsthat the thumb or finger has been released from the input device 591.

To move into position for starting a new word, the user (while viewingthe cursor 661 on the display 650) moves her hand 10 until the cursor661 relative to the displayed keyboard 660 is near a first key locationassociated with the first letter of the new word. This motion places thering 500 near the start location 622 for the course 610 to be traveledby the hand 10 for the new word.

In some implementations, the handheld device is a ring 500 that includesa memory 540, a microcontroller 530, and a touchpad 591 configured tofunction as the input device. The ring 500 may also include a touchdriver 582, a touch controller 584, and a transceiver 520, as shown inFIG. 6. The microcontroller 530 can perform the step of collecting thetrack data from the touchpad 591. The microcontroller 530 can alsoperform the step of establishing a touchpad coordinate system 710relative to the touchpad 591 to serve as a reference for the track data.In this step, the microcontroller 530 can mathematically place thetouchpad coordinate system 710 at a particular location relative to thetouchpad 591. The microcontroller 530 (or the processor 932 on theeyewear device 100) can perform the steps of detecting the length of thesegment 521 and calculating the heading for the segment 521 relative tothe touchpad coordinate system 710.

In some implementations, the eyewear device 100 includes a projector 150(FIG. 2B) that is configured and positioned to project the virtualobject 700 onto the display 650, which may be at least one lens assembly(e.g., an optical element 180A, 180B) of the eyewear device 100, asdescribed herein. AS shown in FIG. 8, the projector 150 may also beconfigured to project the physical environment 20, a number of candidateobjects, the cursor 661, and the virtual object 700.

The eyewear device 100 in some implementations, receives the course datafrom the ring 500 in near real time and in accordance with programminginstructions (referred to herein as a virtual object manipulation systemprogram) stored in the memory 934, performs the step of displaying thevirtual object 700 in a second location on the display 650 in asemi-transparent layer superimposed on top of the physical environment20. The path of the virtual object 700 is based on the motion data beingreceived in near real time from the ring 500.

The virtual object manipulation system 1000 may be used, of course, toselect and move a number of different virtual objects. When the processis completed for a first virtual object 700, the system 1000 isconfigured to repeat the process, if desired, for a subsequent virtualobject.

The IMU 572 inside the ring 500 is collecting motion data when the ring500 is in motion along the course 610. The motion data includesinformation about the location, orientation, motion, heading, or acombination thereof of the ring 500 at each of a plurality of locationsalong the course 610. In some implementations, the ring 500 inaccordance with programming instructions stored in the memory 540,performs the step of placing (mathematically) an origin of athree-dimensional coordinate system 710 on the display 650. In thisaspect, the IMU 572 establishes zero coordinates (0, 0, 0) at theorigin. The accelerometer element of the IMU 572 collects linearacceleration data (relative to the coordinate system 710) for each ofthe plurality of locations along the course 610. The ring 500 (or theeyewear device 100) in accordance with programming instructions, thenperforms the step of computing a second position (in three coordinates:x, y, z) for each of the plurality of locations along the course 610. Inthis aspect, the acceleration data collected by the IMU 572 can be usedto calculate the position (x, y, z) of the ring 500 at each locationalong the course 610.

Any of the message composition and sharing functionality describedherein for the eyewear device 100, the ring 500, the mobile device 890,and the server system 998 can be embodied in one or more computersoftware applications or sets of programming instructions, as describedherein. According to some examples, “function,” “functions,”“application,” “applications,” “instruction,” “instructions,” or“programming” are program(s) that execute functions defined in theprograms. Various programming languages can be employed to create one ormore of the applications, structured in a variety of manners, such asobject-oriented programming languages (e.g., Objective-C, Java, or C++)or procedural programming languages (e.g., C or assembly language). In aspecific example, a third-party application (e.g., an applicationdeveloped using the ANDROID™ or IOS™ software development kit (SDK) byan entity other than the vendor of the particular platform) may includemobile software running on a mobile operating system such as IOS™,ANDROID™, WINDOWS® Phone, or another mobile operating systems. In thisexample, the third-party application can invoke API calls provided bythe operating system to facilitate functionality described herein.

Hence, a machine-readable medium may take many forms of tangible storagemedium.

Non-volatile storage media include, for example, optical or magneticdisks, such as any of the storage devices in any computer devices or thelike, such as may be used to implement the client device, media gateway,transcoder, etc. shown in the drawings. Volatile storage media includedynamic memory, such as main memory of such a computer platform.Tangible transmission media include coaxial cables; copper wire andfiber optics, including the wires that comprise a bus within a computersystem. Carrier-wave transmission media may take the form of electric orelectromagnetic signals, or acoustic or light waves such as thosegenerated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) datacommunications. Common forms of computer-readable media thereforeinclude for example: a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetictape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD or DVD-ROM, any otheroptical medium, punch cards paper tape, any other physical storagemedium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM,any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave transporting data orinstructions, cables or links transporting such a carrier wave, or anyother medium from which a computer may read programming code or data.Many of these forms of computer readable media may be involved incarrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to aprocessor for execution.

Except as stated immediately above, nothing that has been stated orillustrated is intended or should be interpreted to cause a dedicationof any component, step, feature, object, benefit, advantage, orequivalent to the public, regardless of whether it is or is not recitedin the claims.

It will be understood that the terms and expressions used herein havethe ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions withrespect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and studyexcept where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be usedsolely to distinguish one entity or action from another withoutnecessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or orderbetween such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,”“includes,” “including,” or any other variation thereof, are intended tocover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article,or apparatus that comprises or includes a list of elements or steps doesnot include only those elements or steps but may include other elementsor steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus. An element preceded by “a” or “an” does not,without further constraints, preclude the existence of additionalidentical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus thatcomprises the element.

Unless otherwise stated, any and all measurements, values, ratings,positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are setforth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, areapproximate, not exact. Such amounts are intended to have a reasonablerange that is consistent with the functions to which they relate andwith what is customary in the art to which they pertain. For example,unless expressly stated otherwise, a parameter value or the like mayvary by as much as ±10% from the stated amount.

In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen thatvarious features are grouped together in various examples for thepurpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is notto be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed examplesrequire more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather,as the following claims reflect, the subject matter to be protected liesin less than all features of any single disclosed example. Thus, thefollowing claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description,with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subjectmatter.

While the foregoing has described what are considered to be the bestmode and other examples, it is understood that various modifications maybe made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may beimplemented in various forms and examples, and that they may be appliedin numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein.It is intended by the following claims to claim any and allmodifications and variations that fall within the true scope of thepresent concepts.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for representing a virtual object inmotion within a physical environment, said method comprising: presentingsaid virtual object on a display in a first location along a pathrelative to a three-dimensional coordinate system, wherein said displayis coupled to and supported by a wearable device, and wherein saidwearable device further comprises a processor and a memory; collectingmotion data from an inertial measurement unit that is coupled to andsupported by a handheld device that is in communication with saidwearable device, wherein said inertial measurement unit of said handhelddevice comprises an accelerometer and a gyroscope, wherein said motiondata is associated with a course traveled by said handheld device inmotion relative to said three-dimensional coordinate system, whereinsaid step of collecting motion data further comprises collecting fromsaid accelerometer a second linear acceleration associated with saidvirtual object; and displaying said virtual object in a second locationalong said path based on said motion data, such that said path of saidvirtual object is substantially linked to said course traveled by saidhandheld device, wherein said step of displaying said virtual objectfurther comprises: said processor computing said second locationrelative to said three-dimensional coordinate system, wherein saidsecond location is based on said second linear acceleration; and saidprocessor displaying said virtual object in said second location suchthat said virtual object appears to move in translation along said pathrelative to at least one axis of said three-dimensional coordinatesystem.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of collecting motiondata further comprises collecting from said gyroscope a second angularvelocity associated with said virtual object; and wherein said step ofdisplaying further comprises: said processor computing said secondlocation relative to said three-dimensional coordinate system, whereinsaid second location is based on said second angular velocity; and saidprocessor displaying said virtual object in said second location suchthat said virtual object appears to move in rotation about at least oneaxis of said three-dimensional coordinate system.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein said handheld device further comprises an input devicepositioned along an outer surface of said handheld device, wherein saidmethod further comprises collecting track data from said input device,wherein said track data is associated with a segment traversed by afinger along said input device, said segment having a length and aheading; and wherein said step of displaying further comprises:identifying a first size associated with said virtual object in saidfirst location; said processor calculating a magnification factor thatincludes a value based on said length and a sign based on said heading;and said processor displaying said virtual object at a second size inaccordance with said magnification factor, such that said virtual objectappears to change in apparent size relative to said first size.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, further comprising: presenting a cursor on saiddisplay; moving said cursor relative to said three-dimensionalcoordinate system in response to said motion data collected from saidhandheld device; and detecting a selection input from said input devicewhen said cursor is displayed near said virtual object, such that saidvirtual object is releasably selected by said handheld device.
 5. Themethod of claim 3, wherein said handheld device is a ring comprising amemory, a microcontroller, and a touchpad configured to function as saidinput device, wherein said step of collecting track data furthercomprises: said microcontroller collecting said track data; saidmicrocontroller placing mathematically an origin of a touchpadcoordinate system relative to said touchpad; said microcontrollerdetecting said length of said segment relative to said touchpadcoordinate system; and said microcontroller calculating said heading forsaid segment relative to said touchpad coordinate system.
 6. A virtualobject manipulation system, comprising: a wearable device comprising aprocessor, a memory, and a display; a handheld device in communicationwith said wearable device, said handheld device comprising an inputdevice and an inertial measurement unit, wherein said inertialmeasurement unit of said handheld device comprises an accelerometer anda gyroscope; a virtual object manipulation system program stored in saidmemory, wherein execution of said program by said processor configuressaid virtual object manipulation system to perform functions, includingfunctions to: present a virtual object on said display in a firstlocation along a path relative to a three-dimensional coordinate system;collect motion data from an inertial measurement unit, wherein saidmotion data is associated with a course traveled by said handheld devicein motion relative to said three-dimensional coordinate system, andwherein said motion data further comprises a second linear accelerationassociated with said virtual object; and display said virtual object ina second location along said path based on said motion data, such thatsaid path of said virtual object is substantially linked to said coursetraveled by said handheld device, wherein said functions furthercomprise a function to: compute said second location relative to saidthree-dimensional coordinate system, wherein said second location isbased on said second linear acceleration; and display said virtualobject in said second location such that said virtual object appears tomove in translation along said path relative to at least one axis ofsaid three-dimensional coordinate system.
 7. The system of claim 6,wherein said motion data further comprises a second angular velocityassociated with said virtual object, and wherein said functions furthercomprise a function to: compute said second location relative to saidthree-dimensional coordinate system, wherein said second location isbased on said second angular velocity; and display said virtual objectin said second location such that said virtual object appears to move inrotation about at least one axis of said three-dimensional coordinatesystem.
 8. The system of claim 6, wherein said functions furthercomprise a function to: collect track data from said input device,wherein said track data is associated with a segment traversed by afinger along said input device, said segment having a length and aheading; identify a first size associated with said virtual object insaid first location; calculate a magnification factor that includes avalue based on said length and a sign based on said heading; and displaysaid virtual object at a second size in accordance with saidmagnification factor, such that said virtual object appears to change inapparent size relative to said first size.
 9. The system of claim 8,wherein said handheld device is a ring comprising a touchpad configuredto function as said input device, wherein said functions furthercomprise a function to: place mathematically an origin of a touchpadcoordinate system relative to said touchpad; detect said length of saidsegment relative to said touchpad coordinate system; and calculate saidheading for said segment relative to said touchpad coordinate system.10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program codewhich, when executed, is operative to cause an electronic processor toperform the steps of: presenting said virtual object on a display in afirst location along a path relative to a three-dimensional coordinatesystem, wherein said display is coupled to and supported by a wearabledevice; collecting motion data from an inertial measurement unit that iscoupled to and supported by a handheld device that is in communicationwith said wearable device, wherein said handheld device is a ringcomprising a memory, a microcontroller, and a touchpad configured tofunction as an input device, wherein said motion data is associated witha course traveled by said handheld device in motion relative to saidthree-dimensional coordinate system; and displaying said virtual objectin a second location along said path based on said motion data, suchthat said path of said virtual object is substantially linked to saidcourse traveled by said handheld device, wherein said program code, whenexecuted is further operative to cause the electronic processor toperform the steps of: collecting track data from said input device,wherein said track data is associated with a segment traversed by afinger along said touchpad, said segment having a length and a heading;identifying a first size associated with said virtual object in saidfirst location; said processor calculating a magnification factor thatincludes a value based on said length and a sign based on said heading;and said processor displaying said virtual object at a second size inaccordance with said magnification factor, such that said virtual objectappears to change in apparent size relative to said first size.
 11. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein saidinertial measurement unit of said handheld device comprises anaccelerometer and a gyroscope, further operative to cause the electronicprocessor to perform the steps of: computing said second locationrelative to said three-dimensional coordinate system, wherein saidsecond location is based on at least one of: a second linearacceleration collected from said accelerometer and a second angularvelocity collected from said gyroscope; displaying said virtual objectin said second location such that said virtual object appears to move,in translation or in rotation, along said path relative to at least oneaxis of said three-dimensional coordinate system.